13 goals, six assists: Exciting Nigerian & CFR Cluj star Philip Otele makes Team of the Season in Romania

CFR 1907 Cluj forward Philip Porwei Otele has been included in the official Team of the Season by the organisers of the Romanian SuperLiga, Soccernet.ng reports.

In 30 appearances, Otele scored 13 goals, one fewer than the FCSB duo of Darius Olaru and Florinel Coman.

However, Olaru’s haul includes four penalties, and Coman netted three penalties while Otele had none – making him the division’s non-penalty top scorer.

Otele also had six assists, equal with compatriot Funsho Bamgboye of Rapid București and only three behind top assist providers, Universitatea Craiova duo of Alexandru Mitriță and Nicușor Bancu.

Expressing why Otele made the official Team of the Season, the SuperLiga wrote on their official website:

“He (Otele) was the player with the most goals scored in action, 13 successes. In addition, he contributed to the team’s performance with six decisive assists.”

CFR Cluj, managed by legendary Romanian international Adrian Mutu, head into the Championship Round boasting 27 points, one behind Rapid Bucureşti and five behind FCSB.

Who is Philip Otele?

Born in Port Harcourt on 15 April 1999, Otele combined academics with football at Teesside University, a public university which has its main campus in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in North East England.

His desire to turn professional took roots in 2017 when he played for Wolviston FC, a non-league club in Stockton-on-Tees, England.

Otele’s mini-breakthrough arrived in 2019 when he signed a contract with Lithuanian giants Kauno Žalgiris.

He moved to Romania in 2022 to join first-division side Asociația Fotbal Club UTA Arad, from where he teamed up with Cluj last summer.

In three years in Romania, Otele has 23 SuperLiga goals.

It is, however, still a long way from the 46 goals that Kehinde Fatai managed while playing for Farul Constanţa, Astra Giurgiu, Argeș Piteşti, and Oţelul Galaţi to become the highest-scoring Nigerian in the history of the Romanian top flight.